Stress is both additive and cumulative. It adds up over time until symptoms appear. These symptoms may manifest themselves psychologically as irritability, anxiety, impaired concentration, mental confusion, poor judgment, frustration and anger. Common physical symptoms of stress include: muscle tension, headaches, low back pain, insomnia and high blood pressure. Untreated, these symptoms may lead to physical illness and sometimes death.

Hans Seyle is often called the "Father of Stress Studies." Seyle's studies indicate the body, whether under emotional or physical stress, produces corticosteroids and adrenaline. The long term effects of this chemical production is detrimental to the body, impacting the immune system, making individuals more sensitive to pain and causing muscles to contract. Just by examining a body, some doctors can tell if the individual has undergone emotional stress. These chemicals need to be pumped out of the body, so anything that will do the job is worth incorporating into your day. Aerobic exercise helps to eliminate such chemicals, and it also raises levels of good chemicals in the brain that enable people to cope better with stresses. Diet also helps the body eliminate harmful stress chemicals, with consumption of high fiber foods and plenty of water aiding the cleansing process.